I move amendment No. 24:
In page 50, rule 56, between lines 43 and 44, to insert the following paragraph:
"(2) The local returning officer shall, where practicable, provide polling stations which are accessible to wheelchair users.".
These amendments are similar to provisions being made to other electoral codes within the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 1996, which is a Private Members' Bill in the name of Deputy Mary Wallace. This Bill will also introduce postal voting for people with disabilities living at home who cannot or do not wish to go to a polling station to vote.
Amendment No. 24 will place a duty on returning officers to provide, where practicable, polling stations which are accessible to wheelchair users. It does this by inserting a new paragraph to rule 56. The words "where practicable" have been included because of the difficulty of getting suitable polling stations in some areas at election time, particularly in rural areas. If there was no flexibility in the amendment, there could only be polling stations in areas — probably urban areas — with suitable modern buildings. This would present difficulties for rural dwellers who might have to travel long distances to vote.
In relation to amendment No. 25, the new paragraph (i) will require the local returning officer to provide facilities in the polling station to help wheelchair users to vote. It will strengthen the existing administrative arrangements whereby presiding officers are instructed to provide a table and chair in polling stations to facilitate voting by electors with disabilities and elderly electors. Presiding officers are instructed to advise electors that, if they wish, they may sit at a table when marking the ballot paper. These arrangements must enable electors to mark the ballot paper in secret.
The new paragraph (j) proposes an enabling provision to permit the Minister by regulations to prescribe arrangements to facilitate voters with visual impairments to mark their ballot papers without assistance. This follows a recommendation by the committee in April in the interim report on procedures for the registration of voters and conduct of elections. The Select Committee recommended that Braille ballot papers or templates should be made available at all polling stations or, at a minimum, at polling stations at which it is known that voters wish to avail of the facility.
This complex question needs detailed consideration. For example, we need to consider the feasibility of using Braille ballot papers and templates in the electoral system where up to 20 candidates' names may appear on a ballot paper and an elector may record as many preferences as he or she chooses. Likewise, the availability of the necessary technical facilities must be explored, as must the ability of a returning officer to control what appears on the ballot paper or template, whatever form it takes. However, I assure the committee that this matter is being examined.
I am proposing an enabling rather than mandatory provision in the new paragraph (j) because it would not be feasible to provide further facilities for voters with visual impairments until all technical aspects have been fully examined and the necessary logistical arrangements put in place to comply with the requirement. Pending the introduction of new facilities, voters with visual impairments can continue to avail of the existing arrangements whereby they can be helped to vote by either a companion or the presiding officer.
Amendments Nos. 27 and 28 place a duty on local returning officers to ensure, where practicable, that the places appointed for verifying ballot paper accounts and the counting of votes are accessible to wheelchair users. The words "where practicable" are included to ensure that the verification of ballot paper accounts and vote counting can proceed in cases where no building accessible to wheelchair users is available. I ask the committee to accept the amendments.